Izsha exemplifies a midpoint for Kerrigan, standing between Kerrigan's cold rationality and the feral nature of the Swarm. She harkens back to the ideology of the Overmind, but is still a rational individual.[3]

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In earlier times, Kerrigan used her to store her thoughts and plans.[4] On at least one occasion she entrusted Izsha with a plan to infest a planet using the hyper-evolutionary virus through its water supply.[5]

Izsha reunited with Kerrigan following the latter's de-infestation and subsequent return to the Swarm. She served as an advisor, recalling memories from her time as the Queen of Blades and helping her to reclaim the Swarm[6] while remaining attached to her queen's leviathan.[7]

While Abathur was designed to be "evil," the concept of Izsha was to strike a balance between human and monster. Unlike Abathur, Izsha was to have a face that the player could talk and relate to, one that Kerrigan could have more of an emotional connection with.[11]

Izsha's original background had her as an adjutant, from an era where they were cybernetic rather than synthetic.[5] Her organic components allowed her to be infested by the zerg.[12] By BlizzCon 2011, her backstory had been altered, instead portraying her as a former Amanda Haley.[2][13][14] However, her (supposed) former life as Haley is never mentioned in the campaign.

Promotional materials suggested that Izsha might have had ulterior motives for assisting Kerrigan.[15] There was no sign of this in the final product.